a common symbol we find on lamps that used from poland are the double-headed eagle of the austrian empire. the lamps from islamic lands generally don't represent human figures in objects or religious use. so many of the lamps are in architectural form. they have the pointed arches or the horseshoe-shaped arches that are so common in architecture. lamps from the indian jewish community come from three different communities located in the different parts of india. we have one in the shape of a jewish star. i think that has to do with zionistic aspirations of the community. we have in the collection a charming lamp made just about the time israel gained independence in 1948 of an israeli soldier holding a banner with the israeli flag and across the top of the banner are the places to put the lights. one of my favorite lamps is a lamp that's in the shape of the tree of knowledge that stood in the garden of eden written about in the bible, and crawling up its trunk is a snake, the one that tempted eve to eat the apple. i just love the idea that one would equate the hanukkah lamp with a tree an